Status of waste and waste management practices and its health implications in Owerri Municipality of Imo State, Nigeria

Introduction

Waste management involves the orderly collection, transportation, processing, recycling, and safe disposal of waste materials to reduce their negative effect on human health and the environment (Elizabeth et al., 2014; Dolk & Vrijheid, 2013) [8,10] . The rapid increase in global population growth coupled with rapid industrialization has increased the problem of waste management (Achankeng, 2013) [1] . Waste is generally defined as any material that a person no longer intends to use and is disposable, and it includes things such as packaging materials, garden refuse, metals, and old containers (Enete, 2010) [11] . The World Bank (2022) [30] projected that globally; municipal waste generated was about 2.24 billion tonnes in 2020 and was at 0.79 kg per person per day. The said weight is expected to increase by 73% to 3.88 billion tonnes by 2050. Most developing countries, especially low-income urban areas, bear the brunt of poor waste management practices due to inadequate infrastructure, insufficient funds, and weak institutional frameworks (Landrigan et al., 2015) [18] . For instance, in Nigeria, over 90% of waste generated is openly dumped and openly burned at unapproved sites, a condition that poses serious health, environmental, and safety hazards to the citizens (Eja, 2014) [9] . Poor waste management enhances the spread of vectors of diseases; also, the release of methane contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and degrades the aesthetics of urban centers. The modalities for proper management, which involve techniques such as sanitary land filling, incineration, composting, and mechanical treatment of wastes, have remained largely unexploited because of lack of technical capacity and policy implementation (Remigios, 2010; Mattiello et al., 2013) [19,26] .

There is therefore an urgent call for effective policy responses and awareness creation among the public on the need for good waste management as a means of mitigating health risks, preventing environmental degradation, and reducing economic losses that come with it (Johnson, 2009) [15] . Owerri Municipality, the capital of Imo State, is experiencing rising challenges in waste management as a result of rapid urbanization and increases in population. As the population increases at an estimated 2.5% annually, refuse generation has been projected to increase by about 5% annually, amounting to an overall increase of 30%. The scarcity of land for waste disposal facilities further complicates the problem. The most practiced methods of disposal, such as open dumping, give rise to air pollution through burning, contamination of surface water by leachate runoff, and the proliferation of disease vectors like rodents and insects. In addition to these, infrequent collection results in offensive odour, aesthetic degradation, and the blocking of traffic flows. This study examines the environmental and public health implications of poor waste management in Owerri Municipality and identifies opportunities for the adoption of environmentally responsive and efficient waste management systems. Since the urban characteristics of Owerri are typical of other major cities in Nigeria, the findings from this study are expected to inform wider policies and interventions on waste management within and outside the state. This research also adds to the literature on the management of wastes and provides a basis for further studies on urban sanitation, environmental sustainability, and improvement in the public health of developing areas.

Methods

This study was conducted in Owerri Municipality, the capital and largest city of Imo State, Nigeria, between May and October 2025. Owerri covers an area of approximately 58 km² and had a population of 127,213 according to the 2006 National Population Census. The city is geographically located between latitudes 5°03′ and 6°27′N and longitudes 7°00′ and 7°05′E. Topographically, Owerri lies at the confluence of two rivers: the Nworie River to the north and the Otamiri River flowing southwest. The major governmental agency responsible for waste management and environmental sanitation in Owerri is the Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO), which oversees waste collection, transportation, and disposal activities. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was employed to assess solid waste disposal practices and management in Owerri Municipality. Data were collected using a selfdeveloped structured questionnaire and on-the-spot field observations. The design enabled the assessment of waste management knowledge, attitudes, and practices among residents during the study period. The study population comprised adult male and female residents of Owerri Municipality aged 18 years and above. A total of 200 participants were randomly selected from five major sections of the municipality: Douglas (Ekeonunwa Market and New Market), Royce, Ikenegbu, Tetlow, and Wetheral Road. These areas were purposively chosen due to their high population density and significant waste generation. Primary data were obtained through the administration of questionnaires, personal interviews, and direct observations at designated dumpsites. The questionnaires captured demographic characteristics, waste generation patterns, disposal practices, and residents' perceptions of waste management. Prior to participation, both verbal and written consent were obtained from respondents, in accordance with ethical research standards. Field observations were conducted twice weekly for one month at dumpsites across the five selected areas to assess waste types, collection frequency, and disposal methods. Commonly observed waste components included paper, polythene materials, food residues, ashes, dust, metals, and cans. Additionally, oral interviews were conducted with selected ENTRACO staff and residents living near dumpsites to obtain qualitative insights into waste management challenges and community practices. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, including frequency counts and percentage distributions. Results were thus presented in tables to illustrate patterns of waste generation, disposal methods, and community awareness levels on waste management in Owerri Municipality.

Results

Table 1 presents respondents' awareness and attitudes

toward waste management in Owerri Municipality. Of the total respondents, 168 (84.0%) were aware of waste management practices, while 32 (16.0%) reported no awareness. Despite this high awareness, 133 (66.5%) exhibited poor attitudes toward waste management, 32 (16.0%) showed average attitudes, 9 (4.5%) had good or excellent attitudes, and 26 (13.0%) had no idea of their attitudes. All respondents (100%) agreed that the current waste management system was ineffective. As shown in Table 2, non-biodegradable waste constituted 121 (60.5%) of total waste generated, while biodegradable waste such as food residues and paper made up 79 (39.5%). Markets were identified as the leading waste sources, accounting for 111 (55.5%), followed by residential areas 45 (22.5%), schools 23 (11.5%), hospitals 2 (1.0%), and other sources 19 (9.5%). This indicates that commercial activities significantly contribute to waste generation in the municipality. Table 3 shows that burning or incineration was the predominant waste management method used by 92 respondents (46.0%), followed by open dumping 71 (35.5%) and landfilling 37 (18.5%). No respondent reported burying waste. For collection methods, 117 (58.5%) used plastic bags, 49 (24.5%) used containers without covers, 20 (10.0%) containers with covers, and 14 (7.0%) used other methods. These findings highlight unsanitary waste handling practices that increase health and environmental risks. According to

Discussion

This study revealed a high level of awareness of waste management among residents of Owerri Municipality (84.0%), yet most respondents (66.5%) demonstrated poor attitudes toward waste handling and disposal. This gap between awareness and practice has been widely reported in other studies. Adogu et al. (2015) [2] in Anambra State found that although 89% of residents were aware of waste regulations, over 60% still practiced open dumping. Similarly, Akinbile and Yusoff (2012) [3] and Zurbrügg et al.

(2012) [31] noted that awareness alone does not lead to behavioral change unless supported by infrastructure, civic enforcement, and convenient waste collection systems. Nonbiodegradable waste (60.5%) dominated the waste composition in Owerri, consistent with Ogwueleka (2009) [24] , who reported similar trends in Nigerian cities, with plastics and metals forming the bulk of solid waste. Such materials decompose slowly, contributing to flooding, pollution, and drainage blockages. Conversely, Wilson et al.

(2015) [28] found higher proportions of biodegradable waste in developed nations like the UK, where organized recycling and composting programs exist. The predominance of market-generated waste (55.5%) aligns with Igbinomwanhia (2011) [14] , who identified commercial areas as the largest contributors to urban waste in Benin City due to high trading activity and product turnover. Burning or incineration (46.0%) and open dumping (35.5%) were the major disposal methods in Owerri. These results echo findings by Licy et al. (2013) and Nabegu (2010) [22] , who observed that due to inadequate formal waste collection systems, residents in many Nigerian cities resort to open dumping and burning. Such practices release toxic emissions and greenhouse gases, contributing to air pollution and respiratory issues (Singh et al., 2014; Miezah et al., 2015) [21,27] . The absence of sanitary landfills and recycling infrastructure in Owerri reflects the infrastructural and policy deficits identified in Kaza et al. (2018) [17] in their World Bank global waste management review. Regarding waste collection, most respondents (58.5%) used plastic bags, and only 10% used covered containers. This unsanitary handling encourages disease transmission by flies and rodents, a problem also reported by Babayemi and Dauda (2009) [6] in Lagos and Babaei et al. (2015) [5] in Iran.

For waste transportation, trucks (52.5%) were the main means, but many relied on manual methods (22.0%), revealing logistical inefficiencies. Oyelola and Babatunde (2008) [24] similarly identified irregular collection and inadequate vehicles as major challenges in Nigerian cities. The fact that 73.5% of respondents identified community organizations not government agencies as responsible for waste collection highlights institutional weakness. This supports Mbah and Nzeadibe (2017) [20] and Nabegu (2010) [22] , who reported that informal and community-based sectors often fill governance gaps in waste management. The major constraints to effective waste management identified were government negligence (28.0%), weak enforcement (21.0%), and inadequate education (20.5%). These factors mirror findings by Joseph (2006) [16] , who emphasized the need for enforceable policies, and Asase et al. (2009) [4] and Henry et al. (2006) [13] , who stressed that institutional support and public education are critical for sustainable waste systems in Ghana and Kenya. Similarly, Guerrero et al. (2013) [13] highlighted that awareness programs must be accompanied by community engagement and incentives to ensure behavioral change. Ogunrinola and Adepegba (2012) [23] also linked poor waste handling in southwestern Nigeria to flooding and disease proliferation. Air pollution (74.1%) was the most cited health risk, aligning with Babayemi et al. (2017) [7] , who reported that open waste burning significantly contributes to Nigeria's air quality decline.

Finally, it can be established from the conducted study that even though there is high awareness on waste management in Owerri, poor implementation persists due to lacking infrastructure, weak institutional capacity, and low enforcement. Consequently, this trend in most developing nations evidences ineffective governance and rapid urbanization as major impediments to sustainable waste systems (Wilson et al., 2012; Kaza et al., 2018) [17,29] .

Achieving sustainability in Owerri and other comparable urban centers depends on integrating a variety of policy enforcement, investment in infrastructure, environmental education, and community participation.

Conclusion

In Owerri Municipality, most of the wastes generated were biodegradable, with market and commercial activities being the primary sources. The findings showed that waste management in the city was largely inefficient, mainly due to limited knowledge of scientific waste management practices and inadequate equipment for collection and disposal. Other contributing factors included insufficient funding, poor sanitation, and a lack of proper waste storage facilities.

References

1. E. Globalization, urbanization and municipal solid waste management in Africa. Proc Afr Stud Assoc Australasia Pacific Conf. 2013;1-22.
2. Adogu POU, Uwakwe KA, Egenti NB, Okwuoha AP, Nkwocha IB. Assessment of waste management practices among residents of Owerri Municipal, Imo State, Nigeria. Am J Environ Prot. 2015;3(3):82-88.
3. Akinbile CO, Yusoff MS. Environmental impact of leachate pollution on groundwater supplies in Akure, Nigeria. Int J Environ Sci Dev. 2012;3(3):273-278.
4. Asase M, Yanful EK, Mensah M, Stanford J, Amponsah S. Comparison of municipal solid waste management systems in Ghana. Waste Manag. 2009;29(10):2779-2786.
5. Babaei AA, Alavi N, Goudarzi G, Teymouri P, Ahmadi K, Rafiee M. Household recycling knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward solid waste management. Resour Conserv Recycl. 2015;102:94-100.
6. Babayemi JO, Dauda KT. Evaluation of solid waste generation, categories and disposal options in developing countries: Nigeria case study. J Appl Sci Environ Manage. 2009;13(3):83-88.
7. Babayemi JO, Nnorom IC, Osibanjo O, Weber R. Ensuring sustainability in plastics use in Africa: consumption, waste generation, and roadmap to circular economy. Environ Sci Eur. 2017;29(1):35-46.
8. Dolk H, Vrijheid M. The impact of environmental pollution on congenital anomalies. Br Med Bull. 2013;68:25-45.
9. Eja ME. Water sanitation and sanitation for developing countries. 2nd ed. Calabar: Seasprint (Ng); 2014. p. 2446.
10. Elizabeth AG, Richard WR, Gregory MH, Asuquo TS. Federal Republic of Nigeria: National policy on municipal and agricultural waste (MAW) management. Res J. 2014;12:26-38.
11. Enete I. Potential impacts of climate change on solid waste management in Nigeria. J Sustain Dev Afr. 2010;12:101-103.
12. Guerrero LA, Maas G, Hogland W. Solid waste management challenges for cities in developing countries. Waste Manag. 2013;33(1):220-232.
13. Henry RK, Yongsheng Z, Jun D. Municipal solid waste management challenges in developing countries: Kenyan case study. Waste Manag. 2006;26(1):92-100.
14. Igbinomwanhia DI. Status of waste management in Benin City and strategies for its improvement. Environ Manage J. 2011;5(1):23-30.
15. Johnson W. Principles of environmental management. London: Routledge; 2009.
16. Joseph K. Stakeholder participation for sustainable waste management. Habitat Int. 2006;30(4):863-871.
17. Kaza S, Yao LC, Bhada-Tata P, van Woerden F. What a waste 2.0: a global snapshot of solid waste management to 2050. Washington (DC): World Bank Publications; 2018.
18. Landrigan PJ, Wright RO, Cordero JF, Eaton DL, Goldstein BD, Henning B, et al. The NIEHS Superfund Research Program: 25 years of translational research for public health. Environ Health Perspect. 2015;123(10):909-918.
19. Mattiello A, Chiodini P, Bianco E, Forgione N, Flammia I, Gallo C, et al. Health effects associated with the disposal of solid waste in landfills and incinerators: a systematic review. Int J Public Health. 2013;58(5):725-735.
20. Mbah PO, Nzeadibe TC. Inclusive municipal solid waste governance in Nigeria: engaging informal sector workers in decision-making. GeoJournal. 2017;82(6):1173-1186.
21. Miezah K, Obiri-Danso K, Kádár Z, Fei-Baffoe B, Mensah MY. Municipal solid waste characterization and quantification as a measure towards effective waste management in Ghana. Waste Manag. 2015;46:15-27. International Journal of Biology Sciences https://www.biologyjournal.net
22. Nabegu AB. An analysis of municipal solid waste in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. J Hum Ecol. 2010;31(2):111-119.
23. Ogunrinola IO, Adepegba EO. Health implications of solid waste disposal: case study of Olusosun dumpsite, Lagos, Nigeria. Int J Environ Sci Dev. 2012;3(5):428433.
24. Ogwueleka TC. Municipal solid waste characteristics and management in Nigeria. Iran J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2009;6(3):173-180.
25. Oyelola OT, Babatunde AI. Characterization of household solid wastes and design of a collection system in Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Pac J Sci Technol. 2008;9(2):203-211.
26. Remigios MV. An overview of the management practices at solid waste disposal sites in African cities and J Sustain Dev Afr. 2010;12(7):233-239.
27. Singh RP, Tyagi VV, Allen T, Ibrahim MH, Kothari R. An overview for exploring the possibilities of energy generation from municipal solid waste (MSW) in Indian scenario. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2014;32:412-420.
28. Wilson DC, Rodic L, Modak P, Soos R. Global waste management outlook. Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); 2015.
29. Wilson DC, Velis C, Cheeseman C. Role of informal sector recycling in waste management in developing countries. Habitat Int. 2012;30(4):797-808.
30. World Bank. Solid waste management: around the world, waste generation rates are rising. World Bank Urban Dev Brief. 2022.
31. Zurbrügg C, Gfrerer M, Ashadi H, Brenner W, Kuehr R. Determinants of sustainability in solid waste management: the Gianyar Waste Recovery Project in Indonesia. Waste Manag. 2012;32(11):2126-2133.